Apparatus for binding pile fabrics



0d. 5, 1954 MccREERY 2,690,722

APPARATUS FOR BINDING PILE FABRICS Filed March 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l fnverzior Jesse M Crery ct 5 W54 J. MOCREERY 2,690,722

APPARATUS FOR BINDING PILE FABRICS Filed March 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 36 mminmi ill llllll illllllllllIllll!llllllllllllIHHIIHIIIMW Z9 lmununummnm In venfor 5 29 Jesse jkf Creery Fi 5. 2y

Patented Oct. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT osrlcr.

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to method and apparatus for attaching a binding to the cut edge of pile fabrics such as rugs, carpets, and the like.

As is well known, it is necessary to attach a binding to the cut edge of carpets and the like in order to prevent the unravelling of the fabric. At the present time, it is conventional practice to attach the binding in a two-step operation using two different sewing machines. In the first operation, the cut edge of the carpet is bent at right angles to the body thereof, placed adjacent the edge of the binding, and stitched thereto with either a two-thread, zig-zag sewing machine provided with a straight needle, or a sewing machine having a straight needle, two threads, and two loopers. In the second operation, the free edge of the binding is bent over until it is in contact with the base of the carpet. It then is passed through a blind stitch sewing machine provided with a curved needle which attaches the free edge to. the base of the carpet.

The foregoing method is attended by serious and obvious disadvantages. In the first place, it. makes mandatory the use of two different types of sewing machines, each of which is expensive to buy and maintain, and requires substantial floor space in busy workrooms. Furthermore, the binding, when attached, is unsatisfactory in that in the first operation the needle penetrates the fabric vertically and involves the tufts, thereon, making an untidy joint. Still further, bending the fabric to the extent required by the operation of the straight needle machine seriously weakens it and may even break it because of its stiffness and weight.

It therefore is a primary object of the present invention. to provide method and apparatus for binding pile fabrics which is easily attachable to a conventional blind stitch sewing machine without making serious alterations to accommodate the apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus for binding pile fabric which is adjustable to accommodate bindings of varying width and having embossed letters of varying thickness, as well as to suit the requirements of the sewing machine with its appurtenances, the apparatus remaining fixed at a selected adjustment until it is changed to a different position.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for binding pile fabrics which results in a neat and efficient binding operation without weakening or breaking the fabric or involving, the tufts.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus for binding pile carpet fabricswherein both steps of the binding operation are accomplished on a single machine without the necessity of removing the binder apparatus or of removing the unused binding therefrom during the second step.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished will be apparent from the following specification and claims considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded view in perspective of the herein described binding apparatus;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the presently described binding apparatus with the parts assembled;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the presently described binding apparatus illustrating its manner of attachment to a conventional blind stitch sewing machine;

Figure 4 is a sectional view in elevation taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 3 and illustrating the manner of executing the first step of the presently described method for binding pile fabrics; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating the second step inv the presently described method for binding pile fabrics.

Generally stated, the method of the present invention for placing a binding on the cut edge of pile fabrics comprises first inclining an edge of the fabric without, however, bending it sufiiciently to Weaken or break the base of the fabric. Next an edge of a strip of binding material is bent substantially normal to the body thereof. The edges of the two pieces of material then are juxtaposed and joined by sewing them together, the needle penetrating the base only of the pile fabric without substantial involvement of the tufts. Next the free edge of the binding strip is turned until it is adjacent the base of the fabric and a second sewing operation is executed. This constitutes blind stitching the free edge to the base on the same sewing machine, thereby securely attaching the binding to the base and completing the binding operation.

The apparatus for executing the above described method broadly comprises a bracket adapted to be attached to a sewing machine, e. g. a conventional blind stitch sewing machine, a forming member for receiving the binding material and comprising a pair of substantially flat plates spaced apart from each other and having their terminal marginal portions joined or contiguous and projecting substantially normal to the rest of the plates, and means for adjusting the forming member and for securing it to the bracket. The construction of the apparatus will be further apparent from drawings to which reference now more particularly is made.

As is shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the presently described binding apparatus may be attached to a conventional blind stitch sewing machine. This comprises a sewing machine head In, a presser foot I 2, a presser foot bracket [4 affixed to the head by means of screws [6, a curved needle l8 operated with a single thread through a conventional arm and looper, platens 20 and 22, and a rib 24. The latter elements serve their usual function, the rib bar elevating or inclining the sewing surface of the pile fabric by the desired amount, and the platen bars 20, 22 resiliently urging the fabric and binding against the presser foot to assist in holding it during the sewing opera-tion.

The presently described binding apparatus may be attached to the sewing machine head through the bracket or support arm 25 detachably secured to the presser foot bracket 14 by suitable means such as the pin 26 and screw 2'! with nut. The bracket member is made from a suitable constructional material and is formed with a vertical section 28 adapted to be attached to the machine and a horizontal section 29 which is offset to accommodate the forming member indicated generally at 30.

Forming member 36 has, for its function, the guiding of a strip 32 of binding material through the machine in such a manner that an edge 34 of the strip is bent at substantially right angles to the body thereof and is placed in juxtaposition with the inclined edge of the strip of pile fabric indicated generally at 36 and comprising a base portion 38 having extending outwardly therefrom the pile or tufts 40. In a preferred operating position, the fabric and binding strip are passed through a machine with the pile of the fabric extending downwardly and the base thereof adjacent the upturned edge of the binding strip contained in the forming member 3!). (Figures 4 and 5.)

The forming member 30 broadly comprises a pair of substantially flat plates 42, 44 having their terminal marginal portions projecting substantially at right angles to the main portion of the plate and connected together in a suitable manner or at least contiguous to retain the binding. Preferably, forming member 30 is fabricated as is illustrated in the drawings from a single strip of material having a reverse bend in the middle thereof and having the bent portion bent upwardly at the desired angle from the remainder of the member. This portion than is inserted through a suitably located opening in the presser foot.

Means are provided for adjustably attaching the forming member 39 to the base member 29 in such a manner that it extends laterally from the same. Such adjustment is desirable in order that the forming member may be stationed at a selected position as demanded by the construction of the machine to which it is attached and the application in which it is used.

To this end, the plates 52, 44 comprising the forming member bear registering perforations 46, preferably elongated, and adapted to receive a stud bolt or screw 48 made secure to and extending upwardly from the base portion 29 of the bracket 25. A knurled nut 50, wing nut or the like, then may be employed to secure the forming member to the bracket at any desired position along the slot 46.

Means also are provided for adjusting the dimensions of the forming member to accommodate binding tapes of different widths and thicknesses. Both of these functions may be served by a spacing plate 52 of suitable width having a length substantially commensurate with the transverse dimension of the forming member. Spacing member 52 is provided with a perforation such as a slot 54 which preferably is substantially codimensional with slots 46 in the forming member.

When spacing plate 52 is inserted between plates 42, 44 of the forming member with the slot 54 registering with slots 46 and stud bolt 48 penetrating all of the slots and securing the assembly to the bracket 25, it will be apparent that the space between the plates 42 and 44 will be determined by the thickness of the spacing plate. This affords a means of adjusting this space to accommodate binding strips having thereon embossed letters of varying thicknesses, since a plurality of spacing elements of varying thickness may be provided with each assembly. For this reason it is preferred that slot 54 in the spacing plate extend to the edge thereof. Then by loosening nut 50, a given spacing plate may be removed from between the plates of the forming member, and a new spacing plate inserted therebetween without entirely disassembling the apparatus.

In this connection, it is noted that the foregoing thickness adjustment controls the spacing of the plates comprising the forming member principally along the horizontal portion thereof, the effect not being so noticeable in the vertically projecting portion. This will not interfere with the operation of the apparatus, however, since, as the strip is fed through the forming member, the middle part of the binding bearing the manufacturers name and trade-mark passes through the adjustable horizontal portion, while the edge, which is of substantially the same thickness for all tapes, passes through the vertical portion.

It also will be apparent that inner edge 56 of the spacing plate serves as a guide edge to guide the binding strip as it passes through the forming member. By reason of the lateral adjustability of the spacing plates, a ready means is afforded of varying the width of the opening through the forming member to adjust the latter until it will accommodate binding strips of any desired width. Thus for narrow binding strips, the spacing plate is moved inwardly While for wide binding strips, it is moved outwardly. In this way the apparatus may easily be adjusted for use with binding strips of any of the usual widths and thicknesses.

In operation, the bracket 25 of the presently described binding apparatus is aflixed to the presser foot bracket l4 of the sewing machine. A spacing plate of predetermined thickness then is placed between the plates of the forming memher with the perforation therein in registry with the perforations in the forming member. The assembly then is slipped over stud bolt 48, the spacing member adjusted inwardly to suit the width of the particular tape to be applied, and the forming member adjusted until it is in proper relation to the parts of the sewing machine. Nut 50 then is tightened, and the assembly is ready for use.

Next a strip of binding material 32 is threaded through the forming member and the cut edge of the carpet or other pile fabric placed in contact therewith. Both fabric and binding material then are fed into the machine, whereupon the curved needle of the machine will penetrate the base of the pile fabric without substantial involvement of the tufts thereof. It also will penetrate the upturned edge of the binding strip, sewing it to the cut edge of the fabric.

When the first sewing operation has been completed, the binding strip is folded back until its free edge is adjacent the base or floor side of the fabric. In this position, the fabric is again run through the same machine without changing the binder apparatus, or removing any unused binding material from the forming member. The free edge thus is blind stitched to the fabric base in the manner indicated in Figure 5, this completing the binding operation.

Hence it will be apparent that, by the present invention, I have provided method and apparatus for binding carpets, rugs and other pile fabrics in which a single sewing machine may be used for both steps of the binding operation. This is accomplished without making material changes in the construction of the machine and eliminates the cost and trouble attendant upon purchasing and maintaining two expensive sewing machines as heretofore has been the practice. Furthermore, the presently described apparatus is simple in construction and readily adjustable to accommodate binding strips of varying thickness and width. Still further, the binding operation is eifected rapidly without involving the tufts of the fabric and without weakening or breaking the fabric.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for binding the cut edge of pile fabrics with a flexible binding strip and adapted to be mounted upon a blind stitch sewing machine which sewing machine is adapted to pass the cut edge of pile fabric longitudinally therethrough and which sewing machine is provided with adjustable means for adjustably supporting the pile fabric adjacent the cut edge thereof, said binding apparatus comprising a binding strip forming member having a blunt end, and means for mounting the forming member on the sewing machine with the blunt end of the forming member disposed substantially parallel to and for abutment by the cut edge of the pile fabric to be bound, the forming member having a slot extending therethrough in the direction of movement of the pile fabric, the slot being adapted to receive a binding material therethrough, the slot in the blunt end of the forming member being arranged in a plane extending substantially normal to the plane of the pile fabric whereby the section of binding material passing through the slot in said blunt end and to be attached at the cut edge of the pile fabric is disposed against said out edge, the bottom face of the forming member adjacent the blunt end being disposed above the fabric supporting means of the sewing machine in one position of adjustment of the latter for pressing the binding material against the fabric during attachment of the free edge of the binding material to the pile fabric.

2. Apparatus for binding the cut edge of pile fabrics with a flexible binding strip and adapted to be mounted upon a blind stitch sewing machine which sewing machine is adapted to pass the cut edge of the pile fabric longitudinally therethrough and which sewing machine is provided with adjustable means for adjustably supporting the pile fabric adjacent the cut edge thereof, said binding apparatus comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the sewing machine, a binding strip forming member having a blunt end, and means for adjustably mounting the forming member on the bracket with the blunt end of the forming member disposed substantially parallel to and for abutment by the cut edge of "the pile fabric to be bound, the forming member having a slot extending therethrough in the direction of movement of the pile fabric, the slot being adapted to receive a binding material therethrough, the slot in the blunt end of the forming member being arranged in a plane extending substantially normal to the plane of the pile fabric whereby the section of binding material passing through the slot in said blunt end and to be attached at the cut edge of the pile fabric is disposed against said out edge, the slot in the blunt end of the forming member extending upwardly and terminating adjacent the cut edge of the pile fabric to be bound. the bottom face of the forming member adjacent the blunt end being disposed above the fabric supporting means of the sewing machine in one position of adjustment of the latter for pressing the binding material against the fabric during attachment of the free edge of the binding material to the pile fabric.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 524,739 Soule Aug. 21, 1894 548,212 Lord. Oct. 22, 1895 623,100 Mills Apr. 11, 1899 1,915,235 McCollum June 20, 1933 1,946,241 Sailer Feb. 6, 1934 1,975,728 Moran Oct, 2, 1934 22 Moran Apr. 16, 1935 2,043,943 Ackerman June 9, 193 2,278,675 Shaw Apr. '7, 1942 2,3 1,279 Fredericksen Oct. 24, 1944 2,428,431 Murphy Oct. 7, 1947 

